Farmer friend, wheat is an important winter crop. Good yield can be obtained by cultivating it scientifically. The recommended cultivation method for wheat crop is as follows.

Wheat farming Land Preparation After completion of the monsoon harvest, clear the field by removing weeds for the next crop to prevent the soil from hardening. Doing this will also reduce weed infestation. Then level the ground with a ramp. Do not delay plowing and do not plow the land repeatedly with the tractor, as this will cause the bottom layer of soil to harden which will prevent drainage and root development. Adoption of zero-tillage method to save up to about Rs 1500/acre in soil preparation, in which seeds are sown directly from seed or co-fertilizer drill machine in black or heavy colly soil with adequate moisture.

To protect the crop from soil borne and seed borne diseases, apply Thiram or Captan at the rate of 2 grams per kilogram of seed. For efficient use of fertilizer, sow the seeds with Azotobacter @ 30 g + PSB @ 30 g/kg seed. It can save 25% nitrogen + 50% phosphorus.

If sowing is done on time i.e. between 15th to 25th November, then for good growth sowing should be done at a distance of 22.5 cm at a depth of 5 to 6 cm. If late sowing is to be done from 25th November to 10th December, then keep a distance of 18 cm between two rows. For good growth, sowing and irrigation should be done in dry land. Use 50 kg/acre for timely sowing. In late sowing, use durum varieties and seeds at 60 kg/acre. For non-irrigated sowing, use seeds at the rate of 20-24 kg/acre.

For good growth, do first intercropping sowing at 23-30 days and second intercropping sowing at 45 -50 days.

In North and Central Gujarat, irrigate 8 times to a depth of 6 cm. First irrigation of Orvan and remaining 2 irrigations should be given on 21, 35, 45, 56, 67, 78 and 91 days. To give 10 irrigations of 5 cm depth to wheat crop in medium black soil of Saurashtra. Planting and first irrigation in Kora, second irrigation for growing. Then give 2 irrigations at an interval of 8 to 10 days.

In the heavy Kolli land of South Gujarat, a total of 7 irrigations of 6 cm depth should be given to the wheat crop. Apply immediately after first irrigated sowing and give remaining 5 irrigations at an interval of 12 to 18 days.

 Rainfed crops reach harvest stage much earlier than irrigated crops. The crop is harvested when the grain becomes hard and the straw dries and becomes brittle. Harvesting is mostly done with sickles. Threshing – The crop is threshed by threshing or threshing with cattle using a power-driven thresher.